Cleaning and sealing your exposed aggregate driveway and paths is required to protect your investment however what many people don't realise is that exposed aggregate driveways need to be re-sealed every few years in order to maintain the protective sealer in good condition.
If you don't seal your exposed aggregate, you're setting yourself up for a lot of elbow grease to remove even the lightest stains after they've soaked in deep – if you can get them out at all. Plus, your surface will be weaker, and prone to spalling or breaking.
Leaving concrete unsealed will leave it with a flat look. The color will remain flatter and dull, in addition to the concrete remaining porous and easier to damage. Sealing the concrete will enhance the colors and give it more of a marble or mottled look, smoother and with richer colors.
Concrete can be described as a hard sponge that soaks up oil and water-based spills. Easily marked by tires and outdoor elements, it is important to seal the surface, so it looks beautiful year-round. The other benefit to sealing concrete is improved cleaning and maintenance.
With the right care, you're looking at over 10 to 20 years of life. One of the most attractive benefits of using exposed aggregate is its longevity. At Concept Concrete, we offer up to a 78-month warranty on your exposed concrete driveways, patios, and more.
By applying a sealant to exposed aggregate concrete, it helps to protect the substrate from stains as well as repelling moisture which will help to keep the concrete in good condition.
Yes, you can build a slab on grade foundation in the fall and leave it till spring if it has been properly protected against frost heave, though it will most likely require additional insulation. I would suggest you consult with the engineer who designed it.
Left unsealed, the colors will fade, water marks may be an issue, and stains can penetrate leaving ugly oil spots where the service guy left his old jalopy parked on the driveway. It's pure and simple, the job just won't last without a good sealer.
It's Never Too Late …
Sealing your garage floor might not be possible if you have moisture in your garage. This is typically the only scenario where we don't recommend sealing right away, mainly because you should deal with the cause of the moisture first. It could be due to a plumbing leak or a drainage issue.
After discussing the factors you need to look for and the regional location of the project, in broad terms, Spring is in fact the best time of year to seal concrete. With its moderate temperatures and humidity levels, it tends to provide ideal conditions for the application and curing of sealers.
If the concrete is still fresh (around 2-4 hours after pouring), it's important to cover the surface to protect it.
To seal your concrete floor, pour a small amount of concrete sealer into a painting tray and apply the sealer evenly to your floors using a paint roller. Use a paintbrush to seal around the edges of the room. Always work from the furthest area of the room toward the exit so that you don't box yourself in!
If you have cracks in your concrete, sealing won't do anything for those. You'll expend money and effort on something that you might rather replace before too much longer. Sealers fade. The seal on your concrete will fade over time, especially in high-traffic areas.
If you are trying to seal your new concrete with a silicate sealer, a silane-siloxane sealer, or an acrylic sealer that doesn't double as a cure and seal, then you want to wait for the concrete to be fully cured, which is around 28 days.
Concrete sealers are best applied in two thin coats. The first coat of sealer acts like a primer. Most of it will disappear into the concrete surface, and the concrete will probably look fairly unattractive after the first coat. The second thin coat will provide an even finish, color enhancement and gloss.
Ever-Seal Concrete Sealant can be applied to any age concrete, and can definitely be applied before 1 year.
If your concrete is new, you'll need to let it cure; wait at least one month before applying sealer. Before you apply it, check the weather. Sealer needs to be applied in dry conditions because it won't adhere to damp concrete.
Generally, 50 degrees F (10 C) is the accepted minimum temperature when applying most film-forming concrete sealers and coatings. That number pertains to the temperature of the sealer, as well as the temperature of the air and the surface being treated.
As a general rule it takes 28-30 days for each inch of concrete to dry under the right environment. Higher temperatures and lower humidity conditions above the slab reduce the dry time.
Colour sealing is preferred for driveways, carports, pathways and patios. Paint is a thick coating, gets slippery more easily, is prone to flaking and difficult to re-paint once worn.
DO spray new concrete with water. One of the most common methods for curing concrete is to hose it down frequently with water—five to 10 times per day, or as often as you can—for the first seven days. Known as “moist curing,” this allows the moisture in the concrete to evaporate slowly.
Covering your concrete basement floor with a different material can be detrimental to its longevity and condition. This is because the concrete needs exposure to air in order for it to breathe properly.
If you are pouring concrete floors in any type of warehouse or heavy commercial setting, leaving them bare is asking for trouble. Vehicle traffic, chemicals, temperature changes, and other common industrial impacts can quickly damage bare concrete floors. If appearances are a concern, bare concrete is the wrong choice.
Exposed aggregate concrete has a thick, stubby texture that makes the surface highly resistant to slipping, even when it is wet. Apart from that, the size, shape, and surface texture of the aggregate particles can be adjusted to your preferred level of traction.